Update 5/14/14 3:45 p.m. (PST): According to TMZ, the dog was picked up in an "extremely aggressive state" by animal control - the dog will be euthanized.

According to WXYZ News, a family cat in Bakersfield, Calif., is being hailed a hero after saving a young boy from a dog attack.

The terrifying scene was captured on surveillance cameras on Tuesday - the video shows Roger Triantafilo's son riding his bike in the driveway when a dog sneaks around a parked vehicle and rushes to attack the boy's leg.

Before more damage can be inflicted, the family cat, named "Tara," boldly leaps at the attacking dog who turns tail and bolts away.

Though the attack was brief, the child was injured badly enough to require stitches. If not for Tara's assistance, things could have ended much worse.

According to the publication, the dog belongs to a neighbor and is currently "under observation."

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